Gleneagles fell short; Ontario summit will do less

The promises for increased African aid were lofty indeed when the old G7 met in Gleneagles, Scotland five years ago, but the subsequent performance has been mediocre.

Now the new G8 (the G7 plus Russia) is preparing to meet in Ontario cottage country, there’s little reason to expect anything better than mediocre promises will be forthcoming this time. And whether or not they’ll be met, of course, is anybody’s guess.

Yet the Gleneagles commitments have made some difference, and there are prospects for real progress in some of what have long been the poorest countries in the world. For my analysis in the Vancouver Sun, click here.